Multiple-spring motor



Patented July 12, 1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

INVENTOR WITNESS ,5 85 2% ATTORNEYS I. F. BURTON.

MULTIPLE SPRING MOTOR.-

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 18. 1917.

1921., EET 2.

INVEIUTCM? ATTORNEYS I. F. BURTON. MULTIPLE SPRING MOTOR.

APPLlCATlON FILED OCT. 18, 1917.

Patenm d July 12, 1921,

INVEN TOR ls'aazci aizcjis Baa/fem.

MW av ATTORNEYS WITNESS I moreover, it is an object of this invention to- UNlTED STATES h'FlCE.

ISAAC FRANCIS BURTON, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR 'IO VICTOR TALKING MACHINE COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW ii'EIEtSEY.

MULTIPLE-SPRING MOTOR.

smooth, regular and uniformly operating motor actuated by a plurality of springs in substantially as ei'licient a manner as a motor operated by a singlelong spring of even and uniform tension throughout. More particularly, this invention has for its objects to provide a multiple spring motor in which the several springs are so associated that each operates to counterbalance, neutralize and influence the action of the others to avoid any tendency toward an irregular action by any particular spring, thus causing the several springs to elfect a smooth, even, regular application of a substantially constant amount of force ultimately effective to rotate the driving gear of the motor in contradistinction to a slippin jumping or irregular action in the operation of the several springswith a consequent, inefficient, relatively noisy multiple spring motor and provide a structure which is not only substant1ally noiseless and smooth-running in operation but also in which the several spring units are interconnected by way of a positive mechanical connect on throughout to provide a relatlvely steady transmlssion of energy between the same to not only efficiently deliver the power of each to the driving gear of the motor but also facilitate the counterbalancing and neutralizing effect of any spring unit against irregular action by any of the others, and at the same time permit the structure to be readily assembled and taken apart, without entirely disassociating the several power units or pairs of spring units. Furthermore, it is an object of this invention to reduce to a minimum the friction between the operating parts; to reduce materially the number of parts in constructing a multiple spring motor and to Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 12, 1921.

Application filed October 18, 1917. Serial No. 197,232.

provide a light, relatively strong and rigid structure by reason of the arrangement of the several power units and the bearing supports thereof as well as reducing to a minimum the tendency to distort or bend out of alinement the parts through which the various spring units operate in applying the power of each and thus further increasing the efiiciency of the mechanism and reducing the loss of energy during'operation.

Further objects of this invention are to provide a motor of a character indicated above which may be arranged in a relatively compact space both laterally andvertically in relation to tlie'rotating spindle of the motor, the motor being well adapted for use in connection with sound reproducing ma chines and supported by a plate suitably secured in the machine, as to the motor board, for example, and in this connection the supporting plate, the several power units, and the manner in which the same are arranged on the supportmg plate are such as to produce a relatively rigid, strong and compact structure throughout which will re-' quire a relatively small amount of lateral and vertical space when in position on the talking machine structure.

Further objects of this invention are to provide a motor of the character indicated which is so constructed and arranged as to facilitate its inspection, repair, and upkeep under various operating c'onditionsito provide in a power unit a disengageable and automatically resetting connection between the spring and certain other elements of the unit to insure against breakin of any of the parts which might otherwise occur should the spring unit be rewound in the wrong direction, for example, as well as to construct a character of power unit in'which access tothe interiorthereof may be readily had, because of the manner in which the entire power unit is constructed and asseme Further objects of this invention include the provision of a connection, between the spring and a part operated thereby, which will not only insure against breakage, as above indicated, but will also make a strong and positive connection adapted to efliciently transmit power between the spring and the parts connected thereto, the spring itself increasing the efficiency of theconnection as the same is wound up, thus insuring a more positively operating device and permitting the use of the relatively lighter members without detracting from the strength thereof in sofar as the operative connection between the parts thereof is concerned.

Other objects of this invention, as will appearirom the specification and drawings forming a part thereof, reside in the construction, association and relative arrange ment of the various elements whereby an efficiently operating substantially smoothrunning and noiseless multiple spring niotor is produced.

It is evident that various arrangements and details of construction may be used in carrrying out this invention and the mechanism shown in the drawings is illustrated merely for the purpose of one example by which the invention may be carried into effect, Figure'l of the drawings being a perspective view partly in skeleton form to show certain parts of the construction. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section through the motor shaft, certain parts being omitted for the sake of clearness, while Fig. 3 is a diagram 'matic v ew with parts 111 section, showing the relationship of the several springs of the multiple spring motor. Fig. l represents a perspective, view showing the spring units detached from the spring barrel or housing. Fig. 5 represents a perspective View showing the manner in which certain parts ofthe device may be temporarily and partially disassociated and F igs. .6 and 7 are sectional views corresponding to Fig. 2 showing a three spring and a two spring motor, respectively.

In Fig. l of the drawings the motor forming the subject matter of this invention is shown as applied to the motor board in a sound reproducing mechanism since the invention has particular utility in connection with such a machine. Thus the motor board 10 is illustrated with suitable supporting brackets 11 and 12 whereby the board may be pivotally mounted in the talking machine struetureyas is a usual form otconstructionl The motor supporting plate 15 may be secured to the motor board 10 in any suitable manner and in a position relative thereto that thespindle of the motor may be substantially central of the motor board 10. As will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, the supporting plate 15 may be of varied construction, either of cast metal or pressed up sheet metal and the supporting brackets which depend therefrom to form bearings for supporting the motor proper as well as the spindle rotated thereby, may be arranged in various relative positions to efiiciently accomplish their purpose. As shown, the plate 15 is provided with a curved depending bracket 16 adapted to form a bottom bearing for supportingthe spindle 20 so as to extend verti ally through an alined opening in the support ing plate 15 and an opening in the motor board 10 in a well known mannm'. it will be noted from Fig. 1 that the supporting plate 15 has lateral extensions 17 and '18 on either side of that portion oil? the plate from which the'bracket l6 depends. Depending fromthese extensions are brackets and 22 adapted to form a. bearing tor a sha it o l' the motor, as will hereinafter appear. There is also depending from the supporting plate 15, as appears in Fi s. l and 2, a central bracket 23 adapted to rorm a central bearing for the shaft and thus make a. morr rigidly supported construction. The plate 15 is also provided with a plurality oi oppositely disposed bearings 25 and are adapted to form supports tor asuitahle governor 27 whereby the speed of the motor may be regulated in any well-known manner. it will be noted that the supporting plate between the hearing and the first-men tioned depending lu'acket i6 is open or cut away so that a space may he provided which the governor balls may occupy when the same lly out laterally ol the governor spindle during operation o l the mechanism. this cut away portion thereby permitting the governor spindle to be located in close proximity to the lower plane o f the supporting plate 15 thereby reducing the vertical space occupied by the mechanism and permittin qthe use oi? relatively short projections 25 and 26 which form the bearings of the governor spindle. It is evident, of course, that the governor 2? could be located in numerous other positions on the supporting plate 15 as might be desired. is shown, the governor spindle is provided with a worm 30 adapted to mesh and be driven by a gear 31 suitably secured to the vertical motor spindle 20 or any other form of construction might be used for driuure the governor to regulate the speed of the motor. A brake pad 32 may be adjustahly positioned to be engaged by the rotating disk 33, whose position is controlled by the governor balls in a well-lrnowu manner. The brake pad is shown as connected to a bell crank lever 34- by which the position oi the pad may be adjusted. it desired, by a pin 35 extending through the motor board. 10 and the supporting plate 15 may be provided with suitable. bearings for the bell crank lever 34-, although various forms of speed regulating and controlling mechanism could readily be used in 20111100- tion .with themotor construction forming the more partlcular part of thlsinvention. Variousforms of tramnlssion means may be used to transmit the power produced by the motor to the driven member, as the spinindicated in the statement of the invention,-

the motor is so arranged that'the several springs thereof are so vinterconnected and associated with the-other parts of the de-' vice that-the power of each isdelivered to the transmission mechanism, as the gear 40,

so as to obtain the counter-balancing and neutralizing effect of onespring against any irregular action by any other; so that the power of each may be as directlyappliedas possible; the transmission friction is sub stantially reduced throughout, a rigid fixed connection. between the power units is effected and the efficiency of the entire motor is substantially increased, as above set forth.

One form of arrangement for carrying the invention intoefi'ect is illustrated in. Figs. 1 to 4, whereinis shown a plurality of spring units, 1, 2,,3-and 4, the unit 3 being at the extreme left end of the motor while the unit 4 is adjacent to and adapted to be directly connected to the transmission. member or driving gear 40, the unitsl and 2 being located on the right-hand side of the transmission member the units 3 and 4 "being on the opposite side thereof and a supporting shaft 50 is adapted to carry eachof these spring units 1, 2, 3 and 4. 'As :moreclearly shown in .Fig. 2, the shaft 50 is supported from the plate '15 in the Jbearingsformed by theseveral brackets .21, 22 and 23", one bracket being at each end .of the shaft: and one located substantially centrally thereof. This shaft carries a plurality of sleeves, one for each of. the spring units 1, 2, 3 and 4. The spring units 1 and 2 are housed in a spring barrel 1 while the spring units 3 and 4 are contained i11 a similar barrel 2 thus forming pairs of spring units on either sideof the worm gear 40. The manner in which the springs, sleeves and barrels are associated in each pair is illustrated in Fig. 4, the parts being shown disassociated and with the spring barrel 1 adapted to receive the spring units 2 and 1 the springs of which are wound in opposite. directions: The spring unit 2 might be of various constructions, but,

as shown,'aspiral .spring 55 is provide'dat its inner end with an offset end 56 which is adapted to ,lockthat end of the spring into engagement with the sleeve 57 of the spring unit 2, the sleeve 57 being provided with a a longitudinal groove 58, as shown in Fig. 4,

as well as the various other figures, it being noted that the groove 58 extends to the end of the sleeve 57 at one end and the length of the groove may be made substantially equal to the entire width of the spring 55 so that the entire width of the spring is utilized'as a bearing surface or connection between the spring and the sleeve. The other end of the spring 55' is'adapted to be hooked into the springbarrel l by a hook 60 engaging an eye 6lor any othersuitable form of means might be employed to secure one end of spring 55 to the .barrel 1. The other spring unit 1, located in the spring barrel 1', is

adapted to be similarly "connected to the spring-barrel 1. and comprises a spring 65 .wound on a sleeve 67, similar to the sleeve 57, but wound in the opposite direction to i the spring 55. The inner end of the spring 65 is likewise offset at 66 to form a detach-v able locking extension on the spring to engage a groove 68 in the sleeve 67 similar to the :groove 58 of sleeve 57. Between the spring units 1 and 2 may be'located a divi-.

sion or separating plate69 providedwwith an opening 70 to pass over the shaft 50 and the units 1 and 2, as assembled in the spring barrel 1, are more clearly shown in Fig. 2. If; desired, the spring barrel 1 may be provided with a bearing hub 71 by which the barrel is supported on the sleeve 57.

The open end 72 of the barrel, through which the spring units 1 and 2 are inserted to be positioned therein, may be closed by a can 73 adapted to be retained in position in wire retainingfclip 74,.seated in a groove 74 provided in the spring barrel 1'. spondin with the bearing hub 71 is a hearing hub %5 which may be secured in any suitable'way to the end cap 73 and thus form the any suitable manner as by a spring ring or Correother bearing for, supporting the barrel 1.-

barrell extends laterally outwardly therefrom and that the sleeve 57iis secured tothe in position, the hub 75 engaging'and loosely l mounted on the sleeve 67. From an inspection of Fig. 2 it will be noted that each of the sleeves 57 and 67 located in the spring shaft 50'by.means of'the pin or set: screw 76,

thus securing the sleeve 57 to the shaft 50 at a point near the central part thereof or substantially -midway betweenithe ends .of the shaft. The other sleeve67 in the spring barrel 1, as shown in Figs. 1 and-2, has secured thereto a small gear 77 adapted to be engagedby a winding gear 78 located ona suitablesupported shaft 79 to which a crank may be connected to rewind the motor.

Means are provided to prevent a reverse rotation Of'the sleeve 67 comprising a ratchet for preventing' rotation ofany of the parts of the'motor in one direction might be associated with other parts of the device in case of a'difi'erent arrangement of the manner inwhich motion from any of the units ofthe motor is transmittedin delivering its power,

since. various rearrangements of the units might-be readilydevised from that described herein... V I V I The other pair of spring units 3 and 4 are positioned within the other spring barrel 2 in substantially the same manner as are the spring units 1 and 2 located within the spring barrel 1,.that is, one end of each of the springs 85 and 95 of each ofthe units v3 and 4 respectivelyflnay be secured in any desired manner, as by a hookand eye construction, to the spring barrel 2, the springs 85 and 95 being wound in opposite directions about their respective supporting sleeves 87' and 97. Moreover, the-arrangement of these'springs, although not neces-' sarily so,'is made to bear a definite relation to the arrangement of the springs 1' and 2 in the manner indicated diagrammatically in'Fig. 3 whereinit will be seen thatthespring85 isnot only wound in the opposite direction to the sprin 95 but also in the opposite direction in w ich the spring 55 is wound; Moreover, the sleeve'87 -is shown assecured to the shaft'50 by a set screw 89, or'it may be securedthereto in any other manner as will be readily apparent The sleeve 97 for the spring 95 constituting a part of the spring unit 4,: is adapted to be directly connected to the driving gear 10 as is shown in -Figs. 2 and 3. Each of the springs-85 and '95 is also provided with an offset end 86 and 96 adapted to engage their respective sleeves by way of the-detachable groove connections 88 and 98 corresponding in operation and function, as will hereinafter appear, to the grooves58 and 68 of the other pair o'funits. It will be noted that the spring barrel 2; is-also provided with a separating plateIOO adapted to be located. between the" springs 85 and 95 of the spring units 3 and 4, and that the open end of the spring barrel-2" r'naybe closed by a cap 103 retained in position in any suitable manner: as by a spring clip or wire 1043suitably positioned in a groove 105'near the open end of the spring barrel 2.] The spring barrel 2 is alsoprovided witha pair of supporting hubs106 and 107 whereby the barrel is loosely carri'ed 'on the sleeves 87 and 97 being thus supportedin a manner similar to that in which the other spring barrel 1 is positioned on the sleeves support edby the shaft 50.

The various spring unitsshown diagramwhere it will be seen that if a crank were connected to the shaft 79 to rotate the same in a clockwise direction, for example, the gear 78 would rotate the gear 77 in an anticlockwise direction as shown by the arrow in Fig. 1. This gear being connected to the sleeve 67 it will be seen that this sleeve will be rotated inthe same direction, also indi-' cated by a small arrow in Fig. 3, to thereby wind the spring'65 on the sleeve, the ratchet 80 in the meantime engaging the pawl 81 to prevent reverse rotation of the sleeve 67. As soon as the spring 65 is somewhat wound up, its tension is transmitted to the spring barrel 1 to rotate the same in the direction of'the arrow shown in Fig. 3, and moreover, the spring 65 may act to directly transmit therotary power from the sleeve 67 to rotate the spring barrel 1 in the same direction.- In view of the fact that the spring 55 is wound in the opposite direction on its sleeve tothat in which the spring 65 is wound, it will be evident that the rotation of the barrel 1"in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 3 will tend to wind the spring 55 on the sleeve 57, the friction of the parts in the meantime holding the sleeve 57 against rotation. Presently,'l1owever, the tension of the spring 55 and, moreover, the direct action of the spring 55 1n transmitting the rotary motion of the spring barrel 1 to the sleeve 57 will cause the sleeve '57 to rotate. This sleeve beingfixed to the shaft 50 will cause the same to rotate in its bearings, the sleeve 87 0f theother spring barrel 2 and spring unit 3- being also rotated therewith, the direction of the rotation of shaft 50 being indicated by the arrow in Fig. 3. By reason of the manner in which the spring 85 is wound on the sleeve 87, 1t Wlll be seen that this rotation causes the spring unit 3 to be woundup or partially wound up before it causes'the spring barrel 2 to rotate in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 3 to thereby cause the spring 95 of the spring unit 4 to be also wound up and stored with energy in the same manner in which the spring unit 2 is wound up from and through a the spring unit 1. If now the driving gear or worm gear 40 be prevented from rotating as, for example, by reason of a brake being applied to'the machme to stop the rotation of the spindle 20, it will be seen that a continued rotation of a winding crank on the shaft of the winding gear will eventually cause each of the springs to be completely wound up and stored-with substantially the same amount of energy assuming that each individual spring be of substantially the same length and of substantially the same material of constant uniform resiliency. The position of the springs in this condition or when wound up is intended to be diagram matically illustrated in Fig. 3 and the action of the motor in delivering this energy to drive the gear 40 in a regular and even manner with no sudden impulses, slips or jumps, as hereinbefore indicated, will now be described.

The spring unit 4, whose sleeve 97 is directly coupled with the driving gear 40 first begins to operate rotating the gear, butimmediately the tension of its spring 95 falls somewhat below the potential energy in the other spring units, unit 3 for one, less the added energy required of unit 3 to operate over unit 4 due to the slight added amount of friction which must be overcome since the common barrel 2 rotates with the unit 3, then the spring 85 of spring unit 3 begins to operate, moving the spring barrel 2, which houses both units 3 and 4, the motion being transmitted through spring unit 4 to the driving gear 40. If, in unwinding, the spring 85 of unit 3, which necessarily at this time has somewhat more tension than spring unit 4, tends to jump into action, such result is immediately opposed by unit 4, since, as springs 85 and 95 are wound in opposite directions and directly and rigidly connected through the spring barrel 2, it will be evident that if'spring unit 3 moves the barrel 2 faster than is necessary to rotate the unit 4 at substantially the same rate as it was previously being rotated by its spring 95 the extra motion tends to rewind spring 95 of the spring unit i, the barrel 2 moving in the same direction both in winding and unwinding and hence unit 4 immediately absorbs the extra energy ex erted by unit 3 which would otherwise be delivered to the driving gear 40, thus preventing the actuation of the gear with a thump or irregular impulse as the spring unit 3 operates. On the other hand, should the unit 3 for any reason lag behind or fail to immediately come into operation, the tendency of the unit 4 is to counteract such ac tion on the part of the unit 3, since the resistance against which unit 3 operates is being constantly reduced by the action of unit 4 in delivering its power. Moreover, should bothof the above objectionable actions tend to take place, namely, a lag of unit 3 behind-the proper time for its operation and then a sudden jumping of the same into action, it will be seen that both these actions will be immediately and constantly opposed by the spring of unit 4,

since, by reason of the relative association of the units, the spring 95 would first tend to urge spring 85 into action and then immediately oppose any tendency on the part of the same to jump into action to produce an irregular application of power to the 'stantially midway between the ends thereof and delivered to the spring unit 3 through driving gear 40. It. is also evident thatthespring unit 3 has a similar though opposite effect upon any independent action of unit 4 and the units 4 and 3 thus operate throughout their entire action with a counterbalancing and neutralizing effect on each other and tend to produce a regular action in driving the gear 40.

From an inspection of Fig. 3, it will be apparent that in the form of my invention disclosed herewith the spring unit 2 is operatively associated with the spring unit 3 in substantially the same manner as the units 3 and 4.v In other words, the spring 55 of unit 2 is wound in the opposite direction to the spring 85 inunit 3 and since the sleeves of each of these units are fixed to the shaft 50 the two units are substantially rigidly connected to their operative relation. For example, should the tension in both the spring units 3 and 4 fall sufficiently below that of unit 2, this unit will give up some of its energy rotating the shaft 50 through the sleeve 57, the force being applied subthe sleeve 87 thereof. The rotation of this sleeve will be transmitted through the units 3 and 4 to the driving gear 40 in substan tially the same manner in which the energy of the spring units 1 and 2 is delivered to the shaft 50, and the spring units 2 and 3 have the same counterbalancing effect on each other as above described. The spring units 1 and 2 located in the spring barrel 1' operate in substantially the same manner as the units 3 and 4 described above, delivering their power through the shaft 50 and through the spring units 3 and 4 to the gear 40. The spring 65 is wound in the opposite direction to the spring 55, as before, and hence each spring operates upon the other to obtain the counterbalancing and neutral izing effect of each on the other toward irregular action of either, as above described in connection with units 3 and 4.

It will thus be seen that the spring units in the form of the inventionshown in Figs. 1 to 3 by reason of theirconstruction and arrangement, effect an overlapping in the counterbalancing action of the several spring units from one end of the series to the other throughout their operation, and not only between the individual spring units of a power unit, but also between the two power units or between one of the spring units of either power unit and the other power unit so that in tlie'eventual delivery of the power of each to the driving gear. 40 and in the action of j the entire series of spring units, the several units alternately operate to expend or trans mit energy throughout the entire operation of the motor and by reason of the delicate balancing effect hereinbefore pointed out the total power of the multiple spring motor is evenly and regularly expended to rotate the spindle 20 at substantially a constant speed as determined by the governor 27. Moreover,

by rigidly connecting the two springs in a common barrel, as well as the manner in ..out, thus rendering the balancing effect above pointed out very sensitive in its operation as well as increasing the eificlency of the power transmission by reason of a positive, fixed connection between the several units. Moreover, the shaft 50 may be readily withdrawn enolwise from the motor by simply removing the set screws 7 6 and 89, whereupon the barrels 1 and 2 will be bodily removed from the machine, it being apparent that the motor may likewise be readily reassembled in the reverse manner. Furthermore, vby reason of the relative operative relation of the spring units to theshaft 50, the point of application oftheir power thereto, and the supporting bearings thereof, an efficiently operating spring motor is provided having the desirable c'hara cteristicsas hereinbefore pointed out of a regularly operating, smooth-running and substantially noiseless multiple spring motor. 4

In the form of invention shown in Fig. 6, I have shown a three spring unit motor in which the unit 4 of the form of invention shown'in Figs. 1 to 1, has been omitted and in this case the spring barrel 2 is adapted to be rigidly connected to the driving gear 40. The several springs of each of the spring units 1, 2 and 3 are associated in substane tially the identical manner as the same are arranged in the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 4 to obtain the counterbalancing and neutralizing effect of one spring on another tending to prevent irregular and noisy action of the device in delivering its power to drive the gear 40. In view of the fact that the modification shown in Fig. 6 is thus substantially similar in operation and construction, aside from the omission of the spring unit 4, as that of the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 4, a more extended description of this modification is deemed unnecessary.

In Fig. 7 a further modification is disclosed wherein only one pair of associated spring units 1 and 2 is used, in this case both the spring units 3 and 1 being omitted. In the modification of Fig. 7 the sleeve 57 of the spring unit 2 is fixedly connected to the gear 10 instead ofvbeing fixed to the shaft 50. In this case, therefore, the shaft 50 does not rotate during operation, the power from the spring unit 2 being delivered through the sleeve 57 with the gear 40 directly rotated thereby. The association of the springs 55 and 65 in the modification of Fig. 7 is the same as in Figs. 1 to 4 and each operates in substantially the same manner as is hereinbefore more fully pointed out and therefore a repetition of the manner in which the units operate is believed to be unnecessary.

The manner in which the several spring units are constructed and assembled, more particularly, the manner in which the springs are connected to the sleeves, has the advantageous result that the sleeves in each of the spring barrels in each of the constructions shown in the drawings may be withdrawn laterally, as indicated in Fig. 5, and removed from the spring barrels without detaching the end caps 73 and 103 in Fig. 2, thus permitting access to the interior of the spring barrel with the springs retained therein and without further disassoeiatiug the power units. This action is facilitated by reason of the fact that the groove in the sleeve, as the groove 68 for example, extends to the inner end of the sleeve (37 and the spring 65 is merely connected thereto by way of the offset end projection 66. Likewise, sleeve 57 may be withdrawn from the spring barrel 1 from the opposite side thereof in substantially the same manner in which the sleeve 67 is withdrawn. It will thus be seen that the interior of the spring barrels may be cleaned and relubricated when desired and each of the sleeves reinserted in their proper operative position in substantially the reverse manner in which the same were withdrawn, it being noted that the groove in each of the sleeves may be slid laterally into the offset ends 66 and 56 of the springs (35 and 55. '7

It will be further noted that by reason of the manner in which the springs and sleeves are connected, the entire width of the spring bears against the wall of the groove in the sleeve and hence its entire width may be utilized in transmitting the power between the springs and the sleeves, as the case may be, and moreover, as the springs lap around the sleeves they bind their offset ends firmly in place on the sleeves, as will be apparent from the showing in the drawings. Fu rthcrmore, by reason of the fact that certain, or all, of the offset ends of the springs may be made to so engage the grooves in the sleeves, the grooves also being arranged to cooperate therewith as shown in spring unit 1 in Fig. 3, that, if the sleeves are rotated in the wrong direction, or in a direction opposite to that of the arrows indicated on the sleeve of unit 1, in Fig. 3, for example, then the spring will simply move out of the groove in the sleeve and ride on the surface thereof and further rotation in the wrong direction or in either direction will eventually cause the offset ends of the springs to snap down into operative position in the groove of the sleeve when the same is rotated sufficiently to bring the groove around in the proper position again. This has the important advantage in preventing breaking of the parts of the spring unit if for any reason the sleeve were wound in the wrong direction, as, for example, during assembly of the sleeve in the spring and barrel as indicated in Fig. 5 and the initial rewinding of the spring. 7

Having thus described my invention I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States:

1. In a multiple spring motor, a driving gear, a plurality of power units adapted to drive said gear, each power unit comprising a casing inclosing a plurality of spring units, a shaft extending through said gear and said spring units, and releasable means to rigidly secure each of said power units to said shaft, the construction being such that the shaft may be withdrawn endwise from the motor and the power units bodily removed from said motor upon the release of said securing means. p

2. In a multiple spring motor, the combination of a driving gear, a pairof power units adapted to drive said gear, a plurality of springs in each of said powerunits, a sleeve for. each spring, a shaft extending through said sleeves and said gear, and means to detachably secure one of the sleeves of each of said pairs to said shaft to connect said power units through said shaft, said shaft being longitudinally removable from said motor by releasing said securing means. I Y

3. In a multiple spring motor, a shaft, a plurality of spring barrels positioned on said shaft, a plurality of spring units located on said shaft and in said barrels, each spring unit being providedv with. a spring and with a sleeve, a driving gear, a sleeve of one spring unit in one barrel being rigidly connected to said gear, a sleeve of another spring unit in the same barrel being rigidly connected to said shaft, and a sleeve of a spring unit in another barrel on the opposite side of said gear being also rigidly connected to said shaft, and means to put said lastmentioned spring unit under tension,-said springs being alternately oppositely wound in the series througli which poweris transmitted to said gear.

l. In a multiple spring motor, a driving gear,arotatable shaft,aplurality of spring barrels located on said shaft, a plurality of separate sleeves in each barrel in axial alinement on the shaft, springs each connected at one end to a sleeve and at the other end to the common spring barrels, said springsin each barrel being wound in opposite directions, means to secure one of'thesleeves in each barrel to Sald"Sl12Lft,'tl1G springs connected to each of said last-mentioned sleeves of the different barrels being also oppositely wound whereby each of said springs is operative to impart itspower to said gear and the springs are arranged to the driving even and constant manner.

5. In a multiple spring motor, a shaft, a plurality of sleeves located on said shaft, a driving gear connected to one of said sleeves, a spring connected to each of said sleeves, a plurality of spring barrels each adapted to inclose a plurality ofsaid springs, one end of each of the springs inclosed by a barrel being attached to the barrel, the springs in each of the barrels being wound in opposite directions, one sleeve in each of the barrels being connected to the shaft and the springs connected to said last-mentioned sleeves being respectively also woundin opposite directions, whereby each of said springs'is operative to drive said gear and simultaneously counterbalance the tendency of any particular spring to deliver a different amount of energy from that necessary to drive the gear at a governed speed'of r0- tation. r 1

6. In a multiple spring motor, a shaft, a sleeve mounted substantially centrally on said shaft with a drivin gear connected thereto, a second sleeve a jacent said first mentioned sleeve secured to said shaft, a spring secured to each of said sleeves respectively, said springs being wound in opposite directions, a barrel inclosing said springs and secured to each of the same, a third sleeve on said shaftonthe side of said first-mentioned sleeve opposite to that on which said second-mentioned sleeve is located, means to secure said'third-mentioned sleeve to the shaft, a fourth sleeve on said shaft adjacent said third-mentioned sleeve, a spring connected to each of said third'and fourth mentioned sleeves respectively, said springs being wound in opposite directions, a spring barrel therefor connected to each. of said springs, the springs connected to each of those sleeves which are secured to the shaft being also wound in opposite direc tions whereby each of the springs may operate the gear and oppose any tendency of an adjacent spring to move irregularly.

'7. In a multiple spring motor, a shaft, a driving gear mounted substantially centrally thereof, a sleeve connected to said driving gear, a spring barrel, a spring wound between said sleeve and said barrel, a second sleeve in said barrel, and. a second spring wound between said barrel and said second-mentioned sleev in the opposite di; rection, a shaft extending through said sleeves, means to secure said second-mentioned sleeve to said shaft, a third sleeve secured to said shaft on the opposite side of said driving gear, a second spring barrel, a third spring wound between said thirdmentioned sleeve and said second-mentioned gear in a relatively regular,

barrel in the opposite direction to'said second-mentioned spring, a fourth sleeve on said shaft within said second-mentioned bar- (to prevent the rotation of said last-mentioned sleeve in one direction. I 8, In a multiple spring motor, a driving gear, a plurality of spring units mounted on V opposite sides of said driving gear each ineluding .a-spring and a sleeve, a barrel 'inclosing each pair of spring units, each spring of a pair'being oppositely wound with one end connected to said barrel and the opposite end connected to one of said sleeves respectively, a shaft extending through said pairs of units, one of the sleeves in each barrel being secured to said shaft, whereby the energy from one, of said springs is trans-' mitted through the barrel in-which the said spring is located and through the adjacent spring in the same barrel to one of the sleeves secured to said shaft, from said shaft to another ofthe sleeves secured to the shaft on the opposite side of said gear, thence through the spring connected to said last mentioned sleeve to the spring barrel in which said last mentioned spring is located, and thence to another spring in the said last mentioned barrel, and thence to said driving gear. 1

' 9 In a multiple spring motor, a driving gear, a series of spring units located on opposite sides of said driving gear, a shaft extending through, said units, a barrel for inclosing each pair of spring units, the spring units of each pair having their springs wound in opposite directions, the energy from'one of the spring units of one pair being transmitted through the shaft and an opposite pair of units to said driving gear,

the several springs throughout the series being wound alternately in opposite directions to neutralize any tendency of a particular spring to actirregularly and to insure a smooth re ular and even application of power to the d riving gear.

10. In a multiple spring motor, a spindle, a driving gear therefor, a governor for regulating the speed of rotation of said spindle,

and a plurality of power units located on op-.

posite sides of said driving gear, each of sald power units containing a plurality of springs, means to connect sald power units to said shaft whereby the power of anyspring is transmitted to said driving gear, said springsthrough which the power is transmitted being alternately wound to counterbalance any tendencies of a spring to operate irregularly.

'11. In a multiple spring motor, a driving gear, a plurality of power units, one located on each side of said gear, a shaft extending through said units and gear, a plurality of bearings for said shaft, one of which is located adjacent said gear and between said units, means to connect said units in series to said gear through said shaft whereby both units drive said gear and the point of application of the power therefrom is adjacent said bearing between said units.

12. In a multiple spring motor, a driving gear, a plurality of driving units located on .opposite sides of said gear, a shaft extending through said units and gear, a plurality of bearings therefor, one located at each end of the shaft and one located between the gear and one of the units, means to connect said units in series to said shaft whereby both units drive said gear and the application of the power thereof is at a point adjacent the last-mentioned bearing.

13(In a power unit for multiple spring motors, the combination of a spring barrel, a plurality of springs located in said barrel, a sleeve for each of said springs located in said barrel, s0 connected to said springs as to permit one sleeve to be withdrawn laterally from one end of the barrel and the other sleeve withdrawn laterally from the other end of said barrel.

14. In a power unit for motors, the combination of a barrel, a sleeve and a coiled spring wound around the sleeve between the same and the barrel, said barrel being provided with an opening through which said sleeve may move, and said sleeve being provided with a groove extending longitudinally to the inner end thereof adapted to engage one end of the spring when in assembled position, said sleeve being adapted to be withdrawn from operative engagement with the, spring through the opening in the barrel.

15. In a power unit for motors, the combination of a barrel provided with an axial opening therein, a sleeve within said barrel longitudinally removable therefrom, and a coiled spring interposed between the barrel and the sleeve, said sleeve being provided with an open ended longitudinal groove, an offset projection on one end of said spring adapted to engage within said groove Whereby substantially the entire width of the spring engages the wall of the groove and the inner end of the spring engages the surface of the sleeve so that as the spring is lapped on the sleeve said end thereof is bound tightly in position on the sleeve and said spring is free to slide in said groove in said sleeve and out of the open end of said groove when said sleeve is longitudinally removed from said unit.

16. In a power unit for motors, the combination of a barrel provided with an axial opening therein, a sleeve within said barrel longitudinally removable therefrom, and a coiled spring interposed between the barrel and the sleeve said sleeve being provided With an open ended longitudinal recess, an

ofi'set projection on one end 01": said spring adapted to engage Within said recess Whereby substantially the entire Width of the spring engages the Wall of the recess and the inner end of the spring engages the surface of the sleeve so that as the spring is lapped on the sleeve said end thereof is bound tightly in position on the sleeve and said 10 spring is free to slide in said recess in said sleeve and out of the open end of said rei cess when said sleeve is longitudinally removed from said unit.

Invvitness whereof, I have hereunto set 15 

